Hamilton County schools Superintendent Rick Smith transferred Ooltewah High School's basketball coach to the district's Textbook Depository pending the results of the criminal investigation into the rape and assault of a player during a team trip days before Christmas.

"I don't want anyone to think [Montgomery] is being punished or penalized, at this point," Smith said in a press conference Monday. "He is being transferred at this point. If we find other reasons to address the coach, we will."

According to a letter in Montgomery's personnel file dated Jan. 11, Smith told him that "the purpose of this transfer is to ensure the efficient operation of Ooltewah High School throughout the upcoming weeks."

The letter also says that Montgomery is not to initiate contact with any employee of the school system, attend any school-sponsored event without permission or discuss the events of Dec. 22, the day of the assault, this anyone besides law enforcement, investigative officials and attorneys in the case.

"Your assignment to the textbook depository will continue until such time that law enforcement and all other agencies conclude their investigations," Smith wrote in the letter.

The alleged assault and rape of a 15-year-old occurred during the team's trip to Gatlinburg, Tenn., to play in the Smokey Mountain Classic basketball tournament.

Sevier County Juvenile Court records show that one 17-year-old and two sixteen-year-olds are charged with aggravated rape and aggravated assault in this case.

Smith canceled the team's season last week, and law enforcement in both Sevier and Hamilton Counties are currently investigating the case.